APPLICANTS FOR AIR FORCE SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 109, 1 February 1941, Page 12

APPLICANTS FOR AIR FORCE SERVICE

Conscientious Objection Appeals Also

Unusual appeals on Hie grounds ot conscientious objection to service in the armed forces by men who had applied for positions as riggers in the air force, one having been accepted, came before the Wellington Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday. Tlie chairman, Mr. W. F. Stilwell. S.M., referring to tin' man accepted for the air force, said that here was an appeal on Hie grounds of not believing in lighting in any service ami then joining Hie air force. An appeal on tlie ground of conscientious objection was made by Philip .lames Edwin Boulden. carpenter, He did not appear. Mr. C. D. Bell, Crown representative stated that Boulden had written slating that. Im was entering the air force as a Hight rigger. Tiie apiieal was dismissed for lack of prosecution. Rang! Norman Jackson, motor-body builder, who said lie had applied for it position as a rigger in tlie Royal New Zealand Air Force, appealed , on tlie ground of conscientious objection. Tlie chairman asked him if Im realized the implication of applying tor the air force when his appeal was based on conscientious objection to serve in tim armed forces.

Jackson said lie had not yet been accepted for Hie air force and would go on with his appeal. To Mr. Bell, Jackson said tlmt, to his way of thinking lie would not bn directly engaged in killing men it' lie were a rigger in tim air force.

Mr. Bell: But you would be assist ing otliers to do so.

Appellant said Im was prepared to light if New Zealand was invaded: this would lie self-defence. It would make no difference if his appeal was dismissed as he definitely would not go overseas.

The chairman said tlie board appreciated apiieliant’s views but was not concerned witli any action Im might take following tlie board's decision. That would lie a mailer tor other authorities. The appeal was dismissed